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Annual Dinner and prize-giving
Calum McNicol28 Apr 2019 - 14:26
Season 18/19 Report card - showed application, could do better!
Helensburgh RFC held its 50th Annual Dinner and Prizegiving last night (Friday) with a special guest causing quite a stir as members queued to get a photograph taken with the famous visitor.
In a clubhouse superbly set-out by Mo King and her merry band of ever-willing volunteers, over 70 members and guests enjoyed a splendid 5-course meal provided by main club shirt sponsor, Riva Restaurant.
The top table comprised current rugby section chairman, David ‘Stig’ King (Emcee), outgoing HCRFC president, Jon Simmons, speakers Cammy Kerr (1st XV captain) and Mike Linzee-Gordon, and most aptly - given he was at the first Burgh dinner all those 50 years ago - founder member of the club, Fergus Howat.
And to add sparkle to that illustrious spectacle, the club had managed to secure the Calcutta Cup from the SRU for the evening - yes, that one that Scotland retained by fighting back from 31-0 down at Twickenham last month to draw 38-38. It proved popular for posing beside... and why not!
Mike’s speech was as erudite as it was witty, with some of the humour close to the bone for several victims, sorry, players in the audience. He invited Fergus to talk through the some of the attendees at that first dinner, held in the Queen’s Hotel in Helensburgh on 6 March 1970, and which included four former presidents of the SRU among other notable figures in the game around that time.
Kaptain Kalamity Kerr was up next and he regaled the assembly with his own, unique views on rugby, Helensburgh RFC and life in general, delivered in his own inimitable style.
Coach David Calderwood also reflected on a season where Burgh accomplished their chief mission, namely to stay in Division Two following several tough and generally winless seasons ending in relegation the year before. The truth is, the Grizzlies made it by the skin of their once-ferocious teeth, finishing in eighth place and avoiding the drop.
The highlights included home demolitions of visitors Paisley, Wigtownshire and Uddingston, and welcome away wins against Millbrae, Clydebank and Bishopton.
But there were so many matches that escaped the Burgh bears claws… both home openers against Bishopton and Cumbernauld should have been wins, as should that wintry woeful defeat at home to Loch Lomond.
In the end, Lenzie romped the league undefeated, and congratulations to them. But it was nip and tuck behind that, with possibly only Oban Lorne and Strathaven boasting records to be really feared ahead of next season.
If the Grizzlies are to re-discover their bite, then a huge proportion of the frankly staggering 58 players Calderwood picked for matches this season, have to front up at training and show some commitment throughout… there must be two strong teams among those 58 guys. What is encouraging, however, is the number of young players ready to enter the Senior fray after some outstanding shows for the under-18s in recent years.
As Calderwood said in summation: “It’s up to each and every single player to challenge themselves to be the best they can be, to make at least one training session each week and to push hard to make every Saturday count. By doing that, this club can continue to build on a decent season, and get back up to a level where we all think we belong.”
The prize-giving wrapped up formal proceedings, before the guests repaired to the bar to swap stories long and laughable deep into the night. Here’s to the next 50 club dinners!
Most Improved Player of the Season - Phil Ard (prop)
Young Player of the Year - Craig Calderwood (lock/flanker)
Coach’s Special Award - Ali Rogers (centre/wing)
Player of the Season - Cammy Kerr (No.8)
Club person of the Year - Mo King
Contribution to Rugby Award - Jon Simmons
In a clubhouse superbly set-out by Mo King and her merry band of ever-willing volunteers, over 70 members and guests enjoyed a splendid 5-course meal provided by main club shirt sponsor, Riva Restaurant.
The top table comprised current rugby section chairman, David ‘Stig’ King (Emcee), outgoing HCRFC president, Jon Simmons, speakers Cammy Kerr (1st XV captain) and Mike Linzee-Gordon, and most aptly - given he was at the first Burgh dinner all those 50 years ago - founder member of the club, Fergus Howat.
And to add sparkle to that illustrious spectacle, the club had managed to secure the Calcutta Cup from the SRU for the evening - yes, that one that Scotland retained by fighting back from 31-0 down at Twickenham last month to draw 38-38. It proved popular for posing beside... and why not!
Mike’s speech was as erudite as it was witty, with some of the humour close to the bone for several victims, sorry, players in the audience. He invited Fergus to talk through the some of the attendees at that first dinner, held in the Queen’s Hotel in Helensburgh on 6 March 1970, and which included four former presidents of the SRU among other notable figures in the game around that time.
Kaptain Kalamity Kerr was up next and he regaled the assembly with his own, unique views on rugby, Helensburgh RFC and life in general, delivered in his own inimitable style.
Coach David Calderwood also reflected on a season where Burgh accomplished their chief mission, namely to stay in Division Two following several tough and generally winless seasons ending in relegation the year before. The truth is, the Grizzlies made it by the skin of their once-ferocious teeth, finishing in eighth place and avoiding the drop.
The highlights included home demolitions of visitors Paisley, Wigtownshire and Uddingston, and welcome away wins against Millbrae, Clydebank and Bishopton.
But there were so many matches that escaped the Burgh bears claws… both home openers against Bishopton and Cumbernauld should have been wins, as should that wintry woeful defeat at home to Loch Lomond.
In the end, Lenzie romped the league undefeated, and congratulations to them. But it was nip and tuck behind that, with possibly only Oban Lorne and Strathaven boasting records to be really feared ahead of next season.
If the Grizzlies are to re-discover their bite, then a huge proportion of the frankly staggering 58 players Calderwood picked for matches this season, have to front up at training and show some commitment throughout… there must be two strong teams among those 58 guys. What is encouraging, however, is the number of young players ready to enter the Senior fray after some outstanding shows for the under-18s in recent years.
As Calderwood said in summation: “It’s up to each and every single player to challenge themselves to be the best they can be, to make at least one training session each week and to push hard to make every Saturday count. By doing that, this club can continue to build on a decent season, and get back up to a level where we all think we belong.”
The prize-giving wrapped up formal proceedings, before the guests repaired to the bar to swap stories long and laughable deep into the night. Here’s to the next 50 club dinners!
Most Improved Player of the Season - Phil Ard (prop)
Young Player of the Year - Craig Calderwood (lock/flanker)
Coach’s Special Award - Ali Rogers (centre/wing)
Player of the Season - Cammy Kerr (No.8)
Club person of the Year - Mo King
Contribution to Rugby Award - Jon Simmons
Further reading